The six Canadian teams account for 31 per cent of the $1.1 billion (U.S.) in league ticket revenue, and have gone through league-leading double-digit increases over last season, according to the internal NHL repo

Leafs average close to $2 million per game in tcket sales.

The American Southwest is a great place for hockey:

The most interesting league data may concern the sad-sack Coyotes, who were last in ticket revenue at $450,000. The team is losing more than $30 million a season and was contacted over the past season by six potential buyers, including Balsillie's lawyer, Richard Rodier.

If Bettman had his way, the entire freaking league would be in the Sun Belt.

In reality, outside of Minnesota -> Dallas (which was about Norm Green being an idiot), all of the moves to the south have been former WHA teams. The NHL has done nothing to keep the ex-WHA teams solvent, other than help them pack their bags. They tried really, really, really hard to get the Oilers to move to Houston, too.

Why not fold up Nashville, Phoenix, Florida, Anaheim and Carolina and move them to Milwaukee, Hartford, Winnipeg, Quebec City and Kitchener/Waterloo, where there would at least be something resembling a fan base, instead of continuing to try to cram teams in the south, where nobody wants them once the novelty wears off. Maybe even take the Lightning and move them to Saskatoon.

Kansas City might actually work. So might OKC, which at least used to draw 10K+ for its low, low, low minor-league team (but won't have room for both the NBA and NHL, so scratch that). Vegas would be a joke.

If Bettman had his way, the entire freaking league would be in the Sun Belt.

In reality, outside of Minnesota -> Dallas (which was about Norm Green being an idiot), all of the moves to the south have been former WHA teams. The NHL has done nothing to keep the ex-WHA teams solvent, other than help them pack their bags. They tried really, really, really hard to get the Oilers to move to Houston, too.

Why not fold up Nashville, Phoenix, Florida, Anaheim and Carolina and move them to Milwaukee, Hartford, Winnipeg, Quebec City and Kitchener/Waterloo, where there would at least be something resembling a fan base, instead of continuing to try to cram teams in the south, where nobody wants them once the novelty wears off. Maybe even take the Lightning and move them to Saskatoon.

Kansas City might actually work. So might OKC, which at least used to draw 10K+ for its low, low, low minor-league team (but won't have room for both the NBA and NHL, so scratch that). Vegas would be a joke.

Seriously. Think of the Toronto area's version of the New Jersey Devils. Except with fans. It's almost impossible to buy Leafs tickets ... if any market deserves 2 teams, Toronto does much more than, say, L.A.

Maybe Hamilton instead, but Hamilton isn't the most affluent city and it is pretty close to Buffalo.

Seriously. Think of the Toronto area's version of the New Jersey Devils. Except with fans. It's almost impossible to buy Leafs tickets ... if any market deserves 2 teams, Toronto does much more than, say, L.A.

Maybe Hamilton instead, but Hamilton isn't the most affluent city and it is pretty close to Buffalo.

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Makes sense to me. Toronto-area could use two teams.

From Phoenix to Nashville, there are a handful of cities that do not need NHL hockey franchises. Hell, there's an NHL team practically playing on South Beach.